By the time Ikutsuki's helpers come to the facility to release the partition's emergency lock and set them free, it's way past the Dark Hour. The trek back to the dorm is grueling; everyone's injured in some shape or form and tired to the bone. It wasn't easy, but they prevailed and Minako keeps hammering the point to cheer them up while supporting a yawning Fuuka.

How is she still holding up? She went all out.

Akihiko knows she is tired, he can see it clearly, but he is also aware how good she is at pretending for the sake of group morale. The red of her eyes is glazed with exhaustion and she keeps picking at the healed cut on her brow absently but it's almost an excuse to draw attention away from her dropping shoulders.

Stubborn again.

Once they finally step into the dorm, they can't just leave their weapons and equipment in the lobby and need to pick themselves up, which Junpei seems to have an issue with. He almost throws his harness and scabbard on the sofa, but Minato gives him a hard look and sighs, signing to give him the weapon instead.

Ken might come down to something difficult to explain in the morning and Mitsuru is always adamant about keeping all Shadow-related business to themselves; the kid is already curious enough about their long hours and tiredness. Iori places his sword in the twin's hands so he can carry their weapons and his sister's naginata upstairs to stash them out of sight.

"Thanks dude!"

Dependable, that guy.

Yukari and Fuuka are busy sorting out the medkits on the kitchen table, taking out painkillers and other supplies for those that need them, and Minako is talking in low tones with Mitsuru and Aigis by the welcome desk, probably regarding the report to the chairman.

Akihiko keeps moving his jaw in discomfort, the worst is healed but it rattled quite hard earlier and now he's got a piercing headache. Distractingly, he grabs some of the medicine and heads for the fridge to grab his thankfully premade shake, downing the tablets with a sip. He hates medicine and usually endures the pain, but this migraine is bad. There's just this quiet, unspoken mood of groaning soreness around everyone; they all want to clean their wounds and enjoy some hot water for a bit before crashing into bed.

A shower would definitely help right now.

Finally free of dried blood, dust, and grime, Akihiko sits on the edge of his bed in pyjama slacks, still nursing the left side of his face. Somehow, the warm shower made everything better except this and now its throbbing despite the painkillers making him loopy. Maybe staying under the hot water that long wasn't such a good idea, he's a bit out of sorts and light-headed. Just thinking about passing a shirt on his head is simply too much, brushing his teeth was already hell because of his jaw, he'll just make do and go to bed.

He ruffles his hair, mustering the energy to get up and close the light, when he hears Minako in the corridor, murmuring harshly.

"C'mon Junpei, help me or something. You're freaking heavy!"

Hmmm?

There's a slight ruckus as she opens her friend's door and dumps him on his bed with a huff.

"For god's sake dude, at least remove your pants and shoes or you'll have to wash your bedding tomorrow, you're kind of crusty. G'night!"

Iori mumbles something in reply while she closes his door with care, walking down the corridor stealthily and grumbling under her breath.

"I told you not to lay down on the sofa, dummy…"

He can hear her footsteps stop near his doorway, probably because it's open and the light is on.

"Why are you not in bed already? It's so late!"

Akihiko blinks slowly, running a hand over his face to shake off the wooziness and instantly grimaces.

"I was… getting there… why are you still up?"

"Playing daycare, but never mind that. You don't look well, want me to take a look?"

His eyes focus on her silhouette in the doorframe, hair still damp and askew over her shoulders, wearing some loose orange plaid pants and a yellow tank top. She's clearly waiting for an invite and not trying to intrude, but her expression betrays her worry.

She looks adorable.

He makes a vague motion with his arm to invite her in and she tiptoes in barefoot until she's next to him. From up close he can see how exhausted she really is, face pale and gaze a bit glazed.

"Can I…?"

He nods and she gently lifts his chin at an angle to prod delicately at his face. Akihiko's too befuddled with the meds and the fatigue to object and he closes his eyes; the dim light is too bright and he can feel everywhere her fingertips are leaving burns on him.

Why are your hands so soft?

She's being incredibly gentle but it's still sore and his brows scrunch.

"Maybe you should ice it. Let me go downstairs, I'll-"

He's been trying not to react to her touch, but now there's less inhibitions because of the floating clouds all over his brain. He covers the hand cupping his chin with one of his, leaning his cheek into it.

"Don't…"

Please don't go.

Her low chuckle sounds like warmth and silver bells and he smiles slightly, breathing slowly and fighting against the mental fog but it's useless. The fingers on his sore cheek brush against his brow instead and he narrowly refrains from humming at the sensation.

"Clearly you need to sleep this off."

Minako's voice sounds amused, and Akihiko almost wants to chuckle in reply but just can't. Apparently, this was the good stuff Mitsuru keeps for emergencies; he feels like he has a fever and everything is so slow.

You need to rest too.

He remembers her comment about the best sleep of her life and she's dead on her feet; he can deal with the aftermath if it just makes her stop fretting and finally rest. For once there is no cacophony behind his ears, and although he can't quite think clearly what little words he can manage tumble out with no resistance.

"Just stay."

Akihiko clearly hears the little catch in her breath when he speaks but thinks nothing of it, lightly tugging on her hand to insist.

"Are you… sure?"

Minako's voice has a subdued sound, like a hesitation, he can almost hear her expression despite not seeing it. He tugs again to confirm, talking is just too hard, everything's drowning in a cloudbank and all he has are impressions. He just grazes her fingers on his chin with his own.

Oh yes. Please.

"Can you… hm… put on a… shirt first?"

This is so strange a request that he peaks at her through his eyelids, slowly. She's looking sideways toward the window, biting on her lower lip and blushing furiously.

Well this is a good one.

"Nope."

He manages a light grin to go with it because this is so priceless a reaction. She sighs with resignation dramatically when she meets his eyes, the crimson suddenly gleaming with flaming intensity, mumbling under her breath.

"And I'm supposed to not… Oh god…"

Her hand flutters against his brow again, like a ghost.

"Okay, you win. Just wait a minute while I cover my tracks."

Hmm?

But Minako is already out the door in a flash, walking off in silence in direction of her twin's room. He blinks, laying down slowly while he waits, but she eventually comes back, closing the light and locking the door. She timidly makes her way back to him and the faint moonlight from the closed curtains makes her eyes glow in the paleness of her face. She really looks tired, almost ethereal.

Stop moving, just rest.

He raises a corner of the covers in invitation, bleary eyed, and she slides in. He was expecting to hug her to him, but she starts shuffling around. Akihiko can't quite register why she's coaxing him to turn toward her but goes along with it, half-awake. The right side of his face rests near her left collarbone and she snakes an arm between his shoulder blades to keep him in place.

"Just making sure you keep that left cheek upright."

She's so warm, she smells like flowers and soap, and most importantly, she's here. Something slides across his arm, up his shoulder and to the back of his head and he barely registers what it is until he feels her fingertips grazing the tufts of hair behind his left ear. Hir breath catches in his throat, and her voice draws shivers on his head when she murmurs sleepily.

"Comfy?"

Oh yes.

Repressing shivers and insanely comfortable, he answers somewhat sluggishly.

"You're… never leaving."

Akihiko can feel the intake of her breath and the outcoming light chuckle but there's no force in it. He just slides his arms around her waist and across her back tightly to prove his point, pressing his palms to her spine. Everywhere the right side of his face is pressing is scorching flesh and he can feel her heartbeat drum in his ears like a lullaby.

I think this is supposed to bother me. A lot.

There's something soft and warm on his forehead and he sighs in contentment, finally falling asleep.